The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-02-03


prise. relate my story as coherently a.
can for want Of breath, Of which the mar
makes few tottings In = provoking delibe
rate manner, after which he calls some ont
from an inner room, retails TO him the outline
Of my narrative and In perhaps ten minute.
from the time we entered we start homcwardi
escorted by two stalwart members OF tn,
force.
Almost before we have rung, Ada opens the
door for us. Mother Ia stlll nervous ant
harassed, Jack excited at the propect Of az
adventure.
"What would you advlse" asks mother,
addressing the taller of the policemen. 'Thb
person Is In bedroom upstairs"
"Some one had better wake her-just In cas-,
you're mistaken, ms'am," he adds, half apollo
getlcally for appearing to doubt mother.
"You had better knock and explain matters
and see what she has to say for herself" h,
goes on, turning 10 me. you need not DO IL
the least afraid, we won't be three yards of I"
Thus adjured, mount the stairs with q beat
Ing heart, while the Others group themselves
at the bottom. Three times | knock before
receiving an answer, and am just beginning 10
think that the robber has been disappointed In
the lucrative prospects of the house, and made
of without carrying out his evil intentions.
The third time, however, some one stirs, and
deep voice calls out, sleepily: "Who's
therei Sure it's never eight o'clock"
NO." / call back, 'but want TO speak 10
you. Open the door for minute, please"
hear q movement inside as OF some one
stirring, and voice grumblng dlsconten teddy;
and then, Just as my knees begin to tremble,
the doorway wearing a rapidly improvlsed
dressing gown In the shape of an ulster, hei
thick hair straying over her face, which doe.
not wear Its most salubrious expression. Al
once am aware that mother has been wrong
in her calculations, a conviction which natur
ally does not tend to the stcadiness OF either
my voice or IDEAS.
"There has been some mistake" STAN.
mered "You are not our cousin, after all.
You should have been ashamed TO have treat
ed us so badly" go on severely, as fancy
detect symptoms Of guilt In the face before
me.
"Law, sakesw exclalms my companion, to.
ken back ut such q sudden attack, rubbing
her eyes aud starring aghast at me.
"And I'd like to know who set up to be yo,p
cousin" with q scornful emphasis on the
possessive pronoun, while an indignant flush
passes over her face. do tell !" she cries Out
her American accent coming out
strongly. Sand I'd like to know who's been
treated badly II it's not an honest servant
girl, brought here from Ameriky by them al
made her fair promises, and then turned her
adrlft when she had served their purposes.
Didn't your mother engage met and I'd like
to know what she found TO complain OF al
ready
Engage you" echo while hear a faint
exclamation from the group gathered ut the
foot OF the stairs
'Yes, engage me-" she relterates angrlly,
land II you don't believe me I'll show you
the letter Mrs. Harvey got from her, and see
If yon won't believe your own eyes"
"You don't need to- / respond, q light
breaking In on my mind. "Who do you say
engaged youi'
Your mother" she repeats In an angry
tone, thinking | am trifing with her, "Mrs.
White, and I'll find her letter In a second,
too.n
"Then our names not White" l say, "and
en- our cousin to-day, and when you arrived
OF course We took you for her"
"Who may you be, thenr she inquiries,
somewhat staggered, but still defiant.
Mrs. White lives on the opposite side Of the
street." | say soothlngly, not needing the
question: and feeling that, after all, from the
poor woman's point Of view she has beer
rather badly treated.
"You had better go back TO bed, and every
thing can be set right In the morning." con.
iinued cheerfully as my companion bursts in
10 an angry fit Of tears. Then she closes the
loor uuceremoniously in my face, and do
scend the stairs 10 see the effect OF the extra
revelations on the minds Of the 9TH
,rs. Jack aud Ada are titterlug. see by the
Of the mems lips that their gravity
has been put tos severe tcst Mother alone
ooks vexed and annoyed.
Glad that MS nothing more serious than
mistake, ma'am," says the tall policeman at
last II think, as we're not needed, we'll say
good night" and then they 60, leaving us feel
ing chagrlned and small, but wthal relieved.
Dur indignant guest takes leave Of us in the
early morning, aud she and her belongings
IRE safely housed with Mrs. White, over the
way, who, Il seems, had begun to despair Of
her new handmade, and Is unfelgnedly glad
when she makes her appearance. Poor Mary
Her democratic ideas which she found so sat
sfactorlly carried out in our house and at our
able will doubtless receive shock in her new
lbode. Neither is II probable that her new
mistress will relegate TO her her best spare
bedroom 60 that 1t is 10 be feared her candidy
opinion Of our country will undergo
10 change for the better.
The real Eonsln Mary Innre than fnlalls nun